The black ruby barb or purplehead barb is a tropical cyprinid fish endemic to Sri Lanka, where it occurs in forested streams from the Kelani basin to the Nilwala basin. They are found in streams on hills around 1000 ft in elevation. The brightly colored population introduced to Mahaweli at Ginigathena, Sri Lanka, is said to have diminished in number due to the aquarium export trade.
The ticto barb or twospot barb is a species of subtropical freshwater fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. It is a native of the upper Mekong, Salwen, Irrawaddy, Meklong and upper Charo Phraya basins in the countries of Nepal, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. It has frequently been confused with the Odessa barb in the aquarium trade, but in that species the male is reddish-orange.
Rasbora is a genus of fish in the family Cyprinidae. They are native to freshwater habitats in South and Southeast Asia, as well as southeast China. A single species, R. gerlachi, is only known from an old specimen that reputedly originated from Africa (Cameroon), but this locality is considered doubtful. They are small, up to 17 cm (6.7 in) long, although most species do not surpass 10 cm (4 in) and many have a dark horizontal stripe.
The green labeo or mountain labeo, is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is found only in Sri Lanka, where it occurs in streams in the basin of the Mahaweli River.
Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi, known as the Jonklaas's loach or the spotted loach, is an endemic fish species restricted to the wet zone of Sri Lanka. The species was first recorded from the Wilpita area. It is currently known from 12 locations in the wet zone including Beraliya, Dombagaskandha, Madakada, Gilimale, Hiyare, Kottawa, Kanneliya, Weddagala, Nakiyadeniya, Pahiyangala and Boralugoda. It is recorded from a wide range of altitudes. Due to its restricted range and the threats to its habitat Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi, is listed as an Endangered species. The species has already begun to disappear from some of the sites mentioned above due to destruction and fragmentation of its habitat and many other threats that are operating on the species.
The Wilpita rasbora is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is found only in Wilpita, Sri Lanka where it occurs in heavily shaded shallow, sluggish, streams.
Pethia cumingii, known as the Cuming's barb or the two spot barb, is a species of cyprinid fish endemic to Sri Lanka.
Labeo dussumieri is fish in genus Labeo known to occur in west-flowing rivers of the Western Ghats. Earlier Sri Lankan population was considered as the same species as L. dussumieri, recent phylogenetic and physiological differences suggest that Sri Lankan population is a distinct species, Labeo heladiva..
Dawkinsia assimilis is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Dawkinsia. It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats especially to the Southwest Indian states of Karnataka and Kerala. They are known as Mascara Barb. Filament barbs are a group of small freshwater fishes found in the rivers of peninsular India and Sri Lanka. There are nine species known under the genus Dawkinsia. These barbs are popular among aquarium hobbyists as an ornamental fish and are also collected from rivers and bred for trade.
The yellow rasbora is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Rasbora from Southeast Asia. It is a primarily freshwater fish originally from Java island in Indonesia. It is known as the Wader pari fish in the Indonesian language. In addition, it was a protein source for the local community during the old days.
Garra ceylonensis is a species of ray-finned fish in the cyprinid family. It is endemic to rivers and streams in Sri Lanka - and is considered as a schooling fish. It is a rheophilic species and occurs in slow to moderately flowing rivers and streams, and ascends small, rocky streams in order to breed. It primarily feeds on algae such as diatoms.
The horadandia, green carplet, or glowlight carplet, is a species of very small cyprinid fish that is found in slow-moving or still fresh and brackish water habitats in western Sri Lanka. Earlier thought to be a monotypic genus with the single species found in both Sri Lanka and India, an analysis published in 2013 showed that the Indian population should be recognized as a separate species, Horadandia brittani.
Rasboroides is a genus of small cyprinid fishes endemic to Sri Lanka. They are found in small, slow-flowing and shaded streams in the southwestern part of the island. They are essentially restricted to lowlands, although one introduced population occurs at an altitude of 980 m (3,220 ft). They are calm, social and attractively colored fish that sometimes are kept in aquariums.
Rohan David Pethiyagoda is a Sri Lankan biodiversity scientist, amphibian and freshwater-fish taxonomist, author, conservationist and public-policy advocate.
The Chinese rice fish is a species of fish in the genus Oryzias. This freshwater fish occurs in swamps, stagnant parts of streams, rice fields and marshes, and is up to 3.1 cm (1.2 in) long. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Japanese rice fish. The natural range of the Chinese rice fish is in East and Southeast Asia, including the Yangtze, Mekong, Irrawaddy, Salween, Red River and Nanpangjiang basins. It has been introduced to Kazakhstan and Russia ; also spreading in the Azov basin and has been discovered in the Obytichna River in Ukraine.
Rasboroides nigromarginatus is a species of freshwater cyprinid fish endemic to Sri Lanka where only known from small, shaded streams in the Atweltota region of the Kalu River basin. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Rasboroides pallidus is a species of freshwater cyprinid fish endemic to southwestern Sri Lanka. It is only known from shallow, slow-flowing streams in the basins of the Kalu River, Bentara River, Gin River, Polathu-Modera River and Nilwala River. It has been introduced to the Mahaweli and Walawe River basins, and is overall less threatened than the related R. vaterifloris.
Rasboroides rohani, is a species of freshwater cyprinid fish endemic to Sri Lanka where only known from shallow, slow-flowing, shady streams near Suriyakanda in the Walawe River basin. It was scientifically described in 2013, but a comprehensive review in 2018 based on morphometry, meristics and mtDNA disputed its validity, showing that it is a junior synonym of R. pallidus. The occurrence of R. pallidus in the Walawe River basin is not natural, but the result of translocations.
Lepidocephalichthys thermalis, known as the common spiny loach or the spotted loach, is a freshwater fish species found in India and Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka tree crab,, is a species of freshwater crabs of the family Gecarcinucidae that is endemic to Sri Lanka. It is the only known tree climbing freshwater crab found in the country. The crab is discovered from 11 localities from Sri Lanka throughout Kalu River, Walawe River and Gin River basins. Adult are known to survive well in rainwater-filled tree hollows of trees such as Shorea sp., Artocarpus sp., Dillenia sp., Garcinia sp., Myristica sp., and Gyrinops walla. Females with youngs can be seen during February and March on the ground, never within tree hollows. The known predators are Greater coucal, White-throated kingfisher, Sri Lanka grey hornbill and Eurasian otter.
